Below are a few fun pictures from the past week in Oz....I found these events fun, a little interesting, and a little entertaining. Hopefully you enjoy the pictures and captions as much as I enjoyed living through these moments.
Saturday morning I looked outside and discovered this surprise. It reminded me of my days in New Zealand as an astronaut :)
2 of my 4 roommates are also American. They wanted to cook Thanksgiving dinner and were kind enough (or ignorant enough?) to let me help...
The dinner turned out delicious despite my bad luck in the kitchen...
Then the oven caught on fire the following afternoon while Megan was cooking spring rolls. I walked in just in time to see the fire and put it out with bowls of water....no joke....the case is still under investigation to determine whether or not my kitchen bad luck and helping cook on Thanksgiving caused the fire... (the picture is post fire)
This semester I had a small job as a basketball referee. $25/game on Wednesday nights. I may continue refereeing.
Macquarie University has an olympic size swimming pool. I have furthered my liking for swimming as exercise. Sometimes I try to swim in the fast lane :)
Milk purchased from Woolworths with an expiration date of December 6th was recalled for biological defects. This is milk from Woolworths with a December 6th expiration date!! Despite becoming a big milk drinker that past few months, I had yet to open this one...
MOVEMBER!!.....is that Tom Selleck?! I might keep the stache for a little longer :) Christmas??
Many explore and expand their cooking abilities when they enter college. The college student adds meals each semester to his/her cooking arsenal. Unfortunately, I was not one of these cooking gurus. Instead, I have lived the last 3 years on a meal plan at USD. Cooking was not a necessity when the caf was near with buffet-style meals. However, all has changed here in Australia where the meal plan is less common. I am without a mother to prepare delicious meals and I am without an "Oscar" to over-cook my burgers at the USD caf. Finally, the cooking has been up to me.
Overall, I have survived on the simplest meals...mac n' cheese, three-story peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, cereal, etc....but there has also been glimmers of hope along the way. I have made a few different pastas with meat and even cooked a pizza or two in the oven. I acknowledge that these cooking achievements are small steps for most, but they are giant leaps for someone who aimlessly wanders around a kitchen like he has never seen one before. By exaggerating these glimmers throughout the semester I had been thinking maybe....just maybe....I will be able to be the next Food Network chef. However, last night all hope was shot down, run over, stepped on, and finally spit on. I hope you enjoy my embarrassing story...
It is currently final exam time. In the midst of studying, I decided to take a quick dinner break to make some mac n' cheese. I began by using a kettle-like tool to boil the water more quickly than in a pot on the stove. (this kettle is plugged in to the wall and not heated on a stove like traditional kettles) As I waited for water for the water to boil, I figured I would also prepare for the next step. I turn on the flame of one of the burners on the stove. I left the flame low and set the pot I would soon be using on the off-burner to its right. The kettle took a couple minutes longer than expected, but I finally heard the water boiling and was ready to pour the lava-hot water into the pot. This is where the incident occurred....I grabbed the metal handle of the pot with my left hand. However, the pot's handle was even hotter than the lava-hot kettle water! I thought I could overcome the heat and grabbed the handle a little tighter...I was wrong, it was waaay too hot. I flung the pot into the air and my right hand spilled the boiling kettle water all over the floor.
For the next 3 hours plus, I iced my hand. When the ice was on my hand, I felt fine. But within 10 seconds of removing the ice, the unbearable throbbing, hot pain would start again. As the approached 11 o' clock, I became concerned about about being able to sleep at night. I didn't want to toss and turn all night as the ice melted or fell off my hand. (keep in mind, the incident led me to forfeit an evening of studying for an exam and I didn't want to also forfeit quality studying time the following day due to lack of sleep...such a good student I am!) This is when I went into "College Student Survival Mode" (CSSM). Without the proper medication to assist in a situation like this, I needed a more feasible plan. My roommate then told me a similar story when she burnt her fingers on a Saturday night. The pain was great but she still went "clubbing" that night with ice on her hand. The alcohol from the evening soon took her mind off the pain and she was fine the next morning. After hearing this story, I decided this was a feasible option --not to go clubbing, but to use alcohol to take my mind off the pain. My other roommate Carlos jokingly handed me a bottle of wine. I ignored the line in Billy Joel's song "Piano Man", and started drinking alone for the night. By midnight I was feeling pretty tipsy and by 12:30 I was asleep with a bag of melted ice on my hand.
Here I sit the morning after....with blisters on my hand, a mustache on my face, and an embarrassing story of how I was injured by macaroni n' cheese. However, I am glad that my CSSM sunk in and the "bottle of wine strategy" was a success. I got a full night of sleep and I will be able to study all day. Still, I know the incident has severely hampered my dreams of becoming "Bobby Filet" or the next food network star. The kitchen is a dangerous place for me. I will just have to stick to my three-story peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the time being...
In the United States and maybe other parts of the world as well, it is popular for men (and maybe some women?!) to partake in "No Shave November". Others may know this yearly tradition as "Novembeard". It generally is a fun way to bond with a few buddies and an easy excuse to avoid shaving for a month. However, in Australia November is all about the mostache! The month is known as "Movember". Movember was started back in 2003 by a fun group of doods looking to raise awareness about mens' health issues --primarily prostate cancer and despression. Their idea was initiated to bring back the greatness of the mustache, raise a small amount of money, and hopefully encourage men to talk about their health. (http://au.movember.com/)
As an exchange student, I have attempted to combine Novembeard and Movember. I grew a goatee beard for the first 15 days of the month and have cut into a mustache for final stretch. I also joined an online "Movember" team with a buddy for the commrodary spirit and to help me fight through those rough moments with a dirty stache. Below is a picture of my goatee beard. side note: I acknowledge the fact that I took this picture myself from my own web cam...for doing so, I am no longer in loser denial but now a card carrying member of the loser club. I encourage anyone who has never taken a personal pic via web cam to continue their fight...unless you have a good reason like growing a mustache :)
Goatee Beard
The mustache Godfather - Tom Selleck
Post.Script....although it is late in November now, it is never too late to grow a mustache. Grow a stache for the final few weeks if you dare. Ladies, no shaving those legs or armpits! :)
More photo updates to come!
And how good with a mustache have looked with my previous rat tail?!?!
College life is an interesting environment. A college campus is filled with bright, young individuals full of goals and ideas. It is a special community with so many optimistic minds together in a condensed area. The learning that exists outside the classroom can be just as valuable as inside the classroom. Then there is another interesting side of college life. College weekend nights are often a time to cut loose and have a blast. These nights often include goofy mischief, drunken escapades, and funny stories. In other words, college life is an environment of two extremes –extreme intellectually and extreme in fun. This is a unique combination and one that I know I must keep in balance for sanity purposes. Too much of either can hinder a student’s college experience.
During my first month in Australia, it was easy to find the extreme fun college environment. I enjoyed these moments, but these friendships need be nothing more than superficial and the events can be enjoyed with almost anyone. I was looking for a little more of the first described aspect of college life from my abroad experience. The balance I wanted was a different balance than my earliest friends in Australia were seeking, and during that first month I grew frustrated as I struggled to find the intellectual outlet outside the classroom. I struggled to find a close group of friends who I related to enough to share meaningful and challenging conversations with (however, the situation did make me realize the value in a few friendships I built at USD over 3 years, and I am grateful for this realization). In September, I finally found a balanced friendship with my Australian neighbor Huey and two other friends named Brandt and Madison. Huey, Brandt, and Madison are at a similar place in life as me and look for a similar balance of fun and growth in friendships. Our friendship has provided me the piece I was struggling to find abroad. At least one of these three friends have somehow been involved in most of my meaningful moments abroad. I will share two of these moments in the following two paragraphs.
Recently I spent a weekend with these friends that most exchange students are not lucky enough to experience. On Friday night, they invited me to dinner at their mate PJ’s house. PJ has 4 roommates and they literally live in downtown Sydney, 100 yards from the harbor bridge. Their top balcony has the best view I have seen in Sydney, but I was unfortunately not smart enough to bring a camera. Although PJ’s pad is visually impressive, what was more impressive was what was going on at their house. Every Friday night, PJ and his roommates invite their friends over for dinner and to hang out for the night. Instead of the typical Friday night college party, these college guys show their love for one another through service. PJ and his roommates open their house and welcome everyone and anyone (I mean they let me come...so that's saying something) over for dinner. They pay for the food themselves and also cook the meal themselves. Nothing is asked for in return. Additionally, the evening consists of many laughs, a discussion of a random bible verse, and a few games of FIFA on playstation 3. Initially I believe this idea was started with the goal of brotherhood, but the boys also gladly welcome any female friends over to join. The guests are encouraged to invite additional friends as well. PJ and his roommates bring together a variety of people and create a community –a welcoming brotherhood to grow from and rely on when needed.
The following Saturday night, my three friends invited me to an authentic Australian BBQ. Brandt and Madison intern for a well-known company in Sydney and each live with an Australian family. The BBQ was at the home of one these families and its purpose was to welcome Madison’s father who had come to visit for the week. The BBQ was interesting not only because there were several significant Australian businesspeople there, but also because of the type of conversation that was had. Everyone sat in a circle around the table, and since Madison’s dad was the guest of honor, the majority of the questions were directed his way. One bloke described the evening as “Quiz the Guest” (I believe this may be the name of some Australian tv show). The first question asked to Madison’s father was an intimidating one. He was asked, “Tell us who you are. But tell us who you are beyond your age, what you do for a career, and your accomplishments. We want to know the real man. What can you tell us to really help us get to know who you are?” I found this question to be difficult, intriguing, and powerful. Madison’s dad answered the question well with a few significant stories from both his childhood and adult years. These stories shaped the character of the man he is today. The meaningful questions at the table kept flowing throughout the evening, but there were too many to summarize in one post.
Overall, this was a really special weekend for me. I cherish the weekends away from the routine that challenge me to think and grow. The dinner at PJ’s was a humbling example of living life with an other-oriented approach. Instead of looking for what they could receive on a Friday night, PJ and his roommates were focused on the brotherhood they could give to their friends and newcomers. Although unusual, I found it inspiring to see a group of college guys discuss a Bible verse on "a Friday night." And I liked that the discussion was brought back to applying the thought/lesson to today's society. The next house I move into with roommates, I hope to create a similar welcoming brotherhood environment. Also, the BBQ dinner was quite the experience. The evening was filled with intriguing conversation. I like to view myself as a thinker, but these guys blew me out of the water with their insight. I enjoyed this challenge to think deeper. Also, I later discovered that one of the men I had been speaking with was the reigning “Australian of the Year” for his non-profit organization’s work. I found it really cool that this man did not even mention this title to me. The night wasn’t about accomplishments and titles; it was about whom people are beyond this shell. I was at the BBQ for 3 hours, but I literally could have stayed all night. It is great to be in atmospheres where everyone is comfortable thinking and challenging one another. It was a unique college weekend that most students may not get to experience.
Yesterday Tiger Woods won the 2009 Australian Masters golf tournament in Melbourne. Despite still being in the early stages of my liking for golf, I was captivated in front of the television this weekend as I watched the 4-day event.
Tiger
James Nitties
The tournament was interesting to watch because I had competing interests --I was simultaneously cheering for the Australian players and golf's Goliath, Tiger Woods. At some moments I felt like I was watching an old friend compete in Tiger, but at other times I was cheering for my new Australian friends in Greg Chalmers and James Nitties. At the end of the tournament I perceived my competing cheers to be a good sign for my overall abroad experience. I have been away from the US for 4 months now. The beginning was a roller coaster of ups and downs, but now I'd like to think that I am as adjusted as a college exchange student can be in one semester. I definitely miss a handful of family and friends, but I also recognize that I am in a good spot in my life. Australia has accepted me and I have also accepted Australia. This thought inspired a fun list of 10 habits I have adopted this semester while in Australia...I hope you enjoy!
I instinctively now look "right and then left" when I cross a street.
Spiders are everywhere in Australia. I thought I was completely comfortable with spiders until I jumped when I discovered one crawling on my leg beneath the bed sheets this morning. So Australia has made me more comfortable with spiders and almost completely.
I walk around anywhere I can barefoot...definitely an Aussie way!
When neutral on a decision I say, "I can't be bothered."
I naturally spell words with their Australian/British spelling. For example, I spell the word "color" as "colour".
In 4 months I have not used the letter "z". Words like "organized" are spelt "organised". ("z" may very well be an unnecessary letter)
Occasionally I give in to the Australian fashion style and wear a "v-neck" shirt
Instead of growing a beard for "No Shave November", I am growing a mustache for "Mo-vember" (more to come on this tomorrow...)
Australians rarely enunciate words fully. I'd like to think I adopted this, but who am I kidding?! I have always been a mumbler!
Australians love the underdog. Minus the moments I cheered for Tiger, this totally fits my style. Chalmers and Nitties were underdogs in this tourney.
WARNING: This is an entry from my journal (yes, I write in a journal...lol). It is long, a rant, and has no pictures (deadly combo!)....read if you dare.
Today I was a little surprised by the reaction of my class to a proposed ethical dilemma.The assignment was small, but it did make me think and get a little passionate.My class was presented with the topic of subliminal messages.Although the degree of effectiveness of subliminal messages is unknown and doubtful, I struggle to agree with any use of unconscious persuasion and control.
In class we primarily focused on subliminal messages used in businesses.The messages may be used for ‘good causes’ or ‘manipulative goals’.Some good cause subliminal messages can help employees love their jobs or prevent theft by employees and customers. Examples of the subliminal messages are “You love your job.You are a great salesman.” and “Do not steal.If you steal ,you will go to jail.”These messages are repeated throughout the day and unconsciously heard. On the other hand, some obvious manipulative uses of subliminal messages are to convince customers to purchase products that they would not have autonomously purchased on their own.These messages could be as simple as “Smell the freshly baked cookies.You want cookies.”
The majority of my class was not troubled by any of these messages –for good or manipulative purposes.My class argued that the good uses have beneficial end results –being happy at your job and not stealing.They also were not phased by the manipulative messages. My class felt the customers were only being gently pushed to purchase cookies they already desired anyways.I see this viewpoint, but I think felt it was a narrow view.Being happy at your job and not stealing are good ends, but I don’t think the method (the means) to obtaining these results should be so easily accepted.I may be crazy, but easily accepting the use of subliminal messages makes me uncomfortable.Uses like subliminal messages take away our autonomy.People do not act freely, and instead, they act as the message commands.
This class discussion made me recognize how much I value the freedom to independently make decisions. This freedom allows us to use our minds, challenge processes, and grow.Autonomy is a good that should not be easily sacrificed for any amount of an alternative good.If someone is unhappy with a situation, the I don't think the individual needs a subliminal message to become happy at the work.The individual is unhappy for a reason(s) that needs to be addressed.Uncovering and handling these reasons should be the goal, not burying them. Additionally, ‘bad feelings’ can bring about positive change. For example, being unhappy at work (a bad thing) may encourage an individual to do things a little differently and bring about a good in the future.Similarly, people should not steal because of a subliminal message, they shoudn't steal because ‘not stealing’ is the right thing. A message that unconsciously convinces people to not steal is a short-term solution.Understanding that ‘not stealing’ is the right thing is more important than the outcome itself.Realistically this can probably never be universally achieved, but I still think it's the direction worth going. I compare this short-term solution to the wise saying “If you give a man a fish, he can eat for the day. But if you teach a man to fish, he can eat everyday.”A command (in this case, a subliminal message) makes someone act rightly that day. But if people learn to do things for the right reasons, they will act rightly everyday.
It slightly worries me how easily my class was willing to sacrifice autonomy for instant results. I know I am making a mountain out of a molehill, but I'm realizing how much I value autonomy. This may be due to my upbringing. My parents allowed me to make my own decisions.They offered advice at serious times, but they let me go through the process of making a decision. They always said, “It is a parent’s job to make sure his/her child can live independently when the parents aren't around.” This goes hand in hand with autonomy. I wasn’t told what to do but taught how to decide what to do --how to govern myself. Sometimes my decisions have gotten me into trouble (and it continues to sometimes), but I go through the process and learn.My parents did not want to raise a robot that merely followed commands. I really do love that I was raised this way.
Subliminal messages are a minor issue, but I think easy acceptance of minor issues can lead to future problems. Society might be becoming much too dependent on (or desensitized to) technology to solve problems.Quicker results from technology seem to be preferred over the longer process of learning and understanding the reasoning behind good actions. And don’t get me wrong, the inventors of technological advances (and the creators of subliminal manipulations) are greatly impressive thinkers.However, I just don't want to see the broader society become overly dependent on their technological innovations to solve everything. Technology can do a lot, but it shouldn't substitute decision-making. Stealing and hating one's job are problems, but failing to understand the reasoning behind a right action is a larger problem.I think we should avoid things like subliminal messages at all costs to protect autonomy.We need not become robot-like. Learning to make the right decisions and understanding the reasons behind these decisions is a valuable process in the long-run.
Sorry if I sounded too much like George Orwell’s “1984” world of big brother manipulation.
Lately I have been increasing my use of acronyms. However, there is one commonly used acronym that I have never known it's actual meaning. What does "p.s." stand for??
Tourists, backpackers, and exchange students come to Australia daily. All with an interest to see the country, some organize their own travels and others join organized group tours. I was lucky enough to experience something a little different --I got to travel with a local family.
Last weekend, I left my Sydney home and ventured south to Melbourne (pronounced "Mel-ben"....tricky, I know!) for a visit with the White family (Lynda, Jess, and Ally). Jess had been an exchange student in the U.S. a few years back and she stayed with my Uncle and Aunt in San Diego. The White's were kind enough to welcome me in to their home in Melbourne and treat me to an authentic Aussie sight-seeing adventure.
The Whites plus a goofy looking kid on the right
Friday morning, the four of us climbed in the car and began our Great "Great Ocean Road" Road Trip! The Great Ocean Road is located in the most southern part of Victoria and the road is known for both its World War I connection (built by returned servicemen) and magnificent coastal landscape.
Ally contemplating...
As we drove along the Great Ocean Road we made several sight-seeing stops. First, we trekked down a steep path at Erskine Falls to discover a large waterfall. We hopped around the river rocks, and this time I was fortunate to remain coordinated enough not to fall in to the running water :). Next, we continued our trend of natural phenomenons with the 12 Apostles. The 12 Apostles is one of Australia's better known attractions. The apostles are limestone "cliff-islands" that sit alone in the ocean. These cliff-islands were originally connected to the land years ago, but the waves ate away at their limestone bases at a rate of 2 cm/year. First a natural rock bridge is created as the waves eat away at the softer limestone, and then cliff-islands form when the bridges collapse. (Fun fact: there are actually only 8 Apostles at the moment. 4 have collapsed recently, but new ones are forming) Additionally, we continued our road trip a little further beyond the 12 Apostles and discovered other arguably more impressive rock formations. A few pictures are shown below.
Erskine Falls
Cool Lighthouse
2 of the 12 Apostles
Sunset
A lesser known discovery
The next morning, we got back in the car and headed northeast this time. We arrived at the Otway Fly Walk trekked through a rain forest. The fly walk is a large metal walkway that allows you to trek through the rain forest from a tree-top perspective. This was our first experience with heights on the adventure. Additionally, throughout the road trip we spotted several animals in the wild. We spotted a snake, a kangaroo, and my favorite....4 koalas (one was a baby). Now I have held a koala at an Australian zoo, but it was so much more cool to find one yourself in nature.
Spiral Tower at the Fly Walk
Marsupial
The final full day of the Melbourne Madness excursion was spent in the city itself. The White family took me around the historic city and showed me several of Melbourne's highlights. We first elevated up 88 stories of the Eureka Tower to the Edge sky deck (our 2nd experience with heights). This is the largest tower in Melbourne, and as expected, it had great views. One of the pictures below shows the "Edge Experience." This is an all glass room that slides out above the city!! When you look down, it literally looks like you are floating above the city. Also, while in the city I visited my first ice bar called Minus 10. Like the name suggests, the bar was actually minus 10 degrees Celsius. The four of us put on large coats and gloves and then entered the frostbite challenge. Fun fact: the glasses we drank out of were actually made from ice! At the end of the visit we were able to bash them in a rubbish bin.
The weekend was awesome and I as I think back on the trip, everything just continues to get better. The White family was so genuine and fun. We laughed at inside jokes throughout the whole weekend stemming from reality tv, to wii games, to awkward waiters (he was great!), to goofy nicknames. I could not have asked for anything more from a weekend excursion. I am very grateful for the experience. I look forward to one day providing a similar act to traveling college student in the future.
Saturday morning I looked outside and discovered this surprise. It reminded me of my days in New Zealand as an astronaut :)
2 of my 4 roommates are also American. They wanted to cook Thanksgiving dinner and were kind enough (or ignorant enough?) to let me help...
Saturday morning I looked outside and discovered this surprise. It reminded me of my days in New Zealand as an astronaut :)
2 of my 4 roommates are also American. They wanted to cook Thanksgiving dinner and were kind enough (or ignorant enough?) to let me help...
The dinner turned out delicious despite my bad luck in the kitchen...
Then the oven caught on fire the following afternoon while Megan was cooking spring rolls. I walked in just in time to see the fire and put it out with bowls of water....no joke....the case is still under investigation to determine whether or not my kitchen bad luck and helping cook on Thanksgiving caused the fire... (the picture is post fire)
This semester I had a small job as a basketball referee. $25/game on Wednesday nights. I may continue refereeing.
Macquarie University has an olympic size swimming pool. I have furthered my liking for swimming as exercise. Sometimes I try to swim in the fast lane :)
Milk purchased from Woolworths with an expiration date of December 6th was recalled for biological defects. This is milk from Woolworths with a December 6th expiration date!! Despite becoming a big milk drinker that past few months, I had yet to open this one...
MOVEMBER!!.....is that Tom Selleck?! I might keep the stache for a little longer :) Christmas??
